First Picture Of Pensioner Arrested After Armed Burglar Is ‘Stabbed To Death'

Scotland Yard has launched a murder investigation following a suspected botched robbery in Hither Green, London.

According to Metropolitan Police, two men broke into the home just after midnight this morning but were confronted by the 78-year-old owner of the property.

The resident and one of the men got into a scuffle with the other was upstairs. During the melee, the alleged burglar suffered a stab wound to the upper body and the injured man fled from the property.

Paramedics found him in a nearby road and transferred him to a central London hospital for treatment but later died.

The Sun reports the homeowner's name is Richard Osborn-Brooks, a man neighbours describe as 'lovely'.

Nick Myatt, who lives close by, told the newspaper: "I saw him a few times, he's a lovely old man and he cares for his wife who I think has dementia or is disabled.

"He's a nice man, nice to talk to.

"He's an old man - it's a shame really. I hope the law sees sense and let's him off. I don't think it's right."

Police say Mr Osborn-Brooks suffered bruising to his arms during the incident and was arrested 'on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and further arrested on suspicion of murder', according to Scotland Yard.

Another resident, Clem Williams thinks Richard shouldn't be charged because he's the victim, telling the Sun: "Why were the men at his house? The man has a right to defend his home. They should let him go.

"It's a very quiet road, normally we do not get police incidents down this road. There are a lot of older people on this road so I was quite surprised to hear about.

"I've been here 20 years and most people get on with others round here."

The next of kin of the person who died has been notified however police are still looking for the other person allegedly involved in the robbery.

There has been a huge spate of crimes in London in the past two months, with 15 people murdered in February and a further 22 in March. The figures sparked worry across England's capital after an investigation from the Sunday Times found the city had a higher murder rate for those two months than New York City.

If the current rate of murders in London continue, there could be 180 bodies for 2018.

Sources: Metropolitan Police, The Sun

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/PA

Topics: Police, UK News, News, crime, UK, London, Stabbing

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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